Neil Allen

Pompey winger set for return against Walsall

Former Pompey striker Paris Cowan-Hall has been snapped up by Plymouth.

A Fratton Park trainee, he turned down the offer of a month-to-month deal under former boss Steve Cotterill to quit the Blues in 2010.

He later had spells at Scunthorpe and Rushden & Diamonds before having unsuccessful trials at Gillingham and Newport County.

However, the 21-year-old resurrected his career at Woking this season, banging in 17 goals in 42 games as they clinched the Blue Square Bet South title. Those performances have now earned Cowan-Hall a move back into the Football League, with Plymouth signing him up.

The Pilgrams will be required to pay compensation for the youngster, who is out of contract and had been offered a new Woking deal.

Cowan-Hall was Paul Hart’s first signing as Pompey Academy boss, recruiting him from Rushden in 2007, and went on to feature in Pompey’s 2009 pre-season.

That summer, he netted in a 6-1 friendly win at Eastleigh – but was sent off against Vitoria Guimaraes in the Guimaraes Tournament in Portugal.

Another ex-youth product, Florent Cuvelier, has penned a new two-year deal with Stoke.

The Belgian under-21 international walked out on Pompey in the summer of 2010. He moved to Stoke, with the Blues receiving compensation.

The highly-regarded midfielder spent time on loan at Walsall last season, scoring four goals in 16 games.

Meanwhile, one-time Pompey defender Ibrahima Sonko has been released by Ipswich.

The 31-year-old made 21 appearances for Paul Jewell’s men during an injury-ravaged season.

Sonko spent the 2010-11 campaign on loan at Fratton Park, playing 27 times.

Other ex-Blues players left without a club this summer are Papa Bouba Diop and David James.

The 2008 FA Cup winners have been released by West Ham and Bristol City respectively.